Turkish leader praises Moldova fighting FETO terrorism

By Enes Kaplan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey expects Moldova to expand cooperation by transferring schools run by the terror group FETO to responsible ownership, said Turkey’s president after meeting with his Moldovan counterpart in the Turkish capital Ankara.

"We thank Moldova for its cooperation in fighting FETO and extraditing its members to Turkey," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after meeting with Igor Dodon at the presidential complex.

Erdogan said Turkey expects schools run by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey -- to be transferred to the Maarif Foundation, a Turkish educational foundation.

“Moldova’s Education Ministry and Turkey's Maarif Foundation can jointly work on the issue,” he said.

During high-level strategic cooperation council meetings, the two leaders spoke privately about bilateral relations.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

FETO has a considerable presence abroad, including private schools which serve as a revenue stream for the terror group.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut